Officials promise better Rotary Park after sewer project

Shown at the site of sewer construction work at Rotary Park are, from left, Montgomery County Engineer Nick Powell, County Commissioner Mark Riggins representing Clarksville Gas & Water in the sewer project, and County Parks & Recreation Director Jerry Allbert, also a county commissioner.
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The Leaf-Chronicle/Jimmy Settle
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CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Long-held plans to extend Clarksville Gas & Water Department gravity sewer lines through Montgomery County-owned Rotary Park are now materializing, raising some public concerns about tree cutting and other man-made disturbances within the natural preserve.

But officials close to the project promise that once the job is done, Rotary Park will be better than ever for nature lovers.

Culmination of years of planning

County Commissioner Mark Riggins, who represents CGW in the project, said this week this is the culmination of years of planning by the city utility. The popular community park is located off the U.S. 41A Bypass, and is currently amid an array of county-administered facility upgrades.

"When the county decided to do upgrades to Rotary Park ... we got in touch with (local engineer) Jimmy Bagwell to find out how much money we (CGW) could save by running a gravity line through the park," Riggins said.

Riggins said by running a sewer line through the park, the utility is cutting about $300,000 out of the county's upgrades to Rotary Park by eliminating the need for a pump station there, plus CGW is able to avoid adding four other sewer pump stations outside of the park's boundaries.

County Engineer Nick Powell said an initial public meeting about the project was held in 2010, followed by a second meeting two years ago.

Installation process

Riggins said CGW has completed the necessary tree clearing to make way for the 30- to- 35-foot easement strip for the sewer line. Some blasting on the site will continue over the next three weeks.

"We ask the public to just keep in mind that, from this point, the park will look the worst that it is going to look for the entire project," Riggins said. He added that trees that have been removed along the easement are being ground up and chipped to use inside the park for erosion control.

"We're (CGW) fine with the county eventually putting a hiking trail right along the top of the sewer easement. We'll also work with the county on any tree planting and assist in providing mulch for the site as needed," Riggins added.

County Parks Director Jerry Allbert, also a county commissioner, said when the project is done, a user-friendly trail will emerge, and the rest of the site "will grow back and become part of nature." He said the county and CGW are working closely with the Friends of Rotary Park on the project.

The entire sewer project should be finished no later than Feb. 2, 2015, according to the CGW timetable. Until then, Riggins asks the public to stay away from areas where orange cones and banners designating the construction site have been set up.